Chet Holmgren (Minnehaha Academy 6'11 2021)- Though Chet is a highly rated national prospect, the veteran presence of Javonni Bickham last season limited Chet's playing time as a freshman. Chet contributed solid production off the bench for a loaded squad, but will move into the Minnehaha starting lineup as a sophomore and with the opportunity to dominate inside and out. His freshman season stats of 6 ppg, 5 rpg, and 2 bpg have the potential to be doubled as a sophomore as he will be a dominating presence down low. Like Kristaps Porzingis in the NBA, Chet is a "unicorn" kind of player with a unique skill-set for his length. Chet is already a good three point shooter, has the ability to finish around the rim with both hands, and can also beat defenders off the dribble. And with a 7'3 wingspan, Chet could still grow even more. He will be surrounded by a plethora of talented guards in Jalen Suggs, Terry Lockett, Prince Aligbe, and Donavan Smith that will spread the floor and open up space for him inside. Chet will be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams, and has the potential to be putting up big numbers as a sophomore.
Jalen Travis (DeLaSalle 6'6 2020)- Jalen's minutes on varsity were sparce as a sophomore, but don't sleep on his ability to score the rock inside. Jalen was practically a cheat code at the junior varsity level, scoring at will down low. DeLaSalle lost a lot of their varsity lineup to graduation or transfers, so don't be surprised if Jalen slides into the starting lineup. Jalen played with Howard Pulley during the AAU season, improving his game against some of the nation's elite programs. In his 10 appearances at the varsity level, Jalen averaged 2.2 ppg, a number that could increase to around 8 ppg as a junior with an increase in playing time. Tyrell Terry and Jamison Battle are two shooters that can spread the floor, creating a lot of space inside for Jalen to go one on one against his defender. The skill level from JV to varsity will be a jump, but if Jalen can adjust to the pace of the game, he can be a solid contributor to a DeLaSalle team that is a favorite to win state.
Dane Zimmer (Hopkins 6'7 2019)- Another player who came off the bench for a loaded team last season, Dane is primed and ready to be a productive starter as a senior. Known as one of the most intelligent bigs in the state, Dane always seems to be in the right place at the right time, which is a big reason he was able to average 9 ppg and 6 rpg off the bench for Hopkins last year. Dane will replace Joe Hedstrom (now with the Wisconsin Badgers) down low to compliment Zeke Nnaji in the post. Dane will be a part of one of the most lethal post duos in the state, and will play a crucial role in Hopkins' success this season. Dane's consistent production combined with increased playing time could open a lot of eyes in the near future.
Davon Townley (Minneapolis North 6'6 2021)- Though he has shown the ability and athleticism to be a wing, Davon will likely take over Odell Wilson's role inside for the Minneapolis North Polars. He is one of the most highly touted 2021's in the state, and has an impressive combination of size, athleticism, and skill. He has shown the ability to step outside and knock down threes and can also use his size and strength to score inside. When he gets in the open floor Davon has the bounce to throw down some big dunks in traffic. Davon made 14 appearances on varsity as a freshman, averaging 3.4 ppg. He had two games scoring in double figures, a sight that could become familiar during his sophomore season. He will be an integral part in a reloaded North program, and could average double figures playing inside for the Polars.
Nathan Brusseau (New Prague 6'10 2019)- Nathan Brusseau was perhaps the biggest contributor for his team on this list in terms of playing time and stats. However, he has the opportunity to make a big name for himself as a senior. After playing with D1 Minnesota Nathan will have gained valuable experience playing with and against some of the top players in the country.This experience on the AAU circuit could show in his confidence and production at the high school level.After averaging 9.9 ppg as a junior, Nathan showed signs of being a major scoring threat. He ended the season with some big games, including 21 points against Waconia and 17 against Holy Family. His three point shot makes him a unique threat at 6'10, and he is a solid finisher down low. If he can show a good array of post moves and solid footwork to create his own shot, it will be very hard to stop Brusseau.
